THE LOST PEOPLE OF MESA VERDE
by Elsa Marston
The Anasazi lived peacefully on the mesa for 800 years.
Then they disappeared.
In the dry land of southwestern Colorado a beautiful plateau
rises. It has so many trees that early Spanish explorers called it
Mesa Verde, which means "green table." For about eight hundred
years Native Americans called the Anasazi lived on this mesa.
And then they left. Ever since the cliff houses were first
discovered a hundred years ago, scientists and historians have
wondered why.
Anasazi is a Navajo word meaning "the ancient ones." When
they first settled there, around 500 A. D., the Anasazi lived in
alcoves in the walls of the high canyons. Later they moved to the
level land on top, where they built houses of stone and mud
mortar. As time passed, they constructed more elaborate houses,
like apartment buildings, with several families living close
together.
The Anasazi made beautiful pottery, turquoise jewelry, fine
sashes of woven hair, and baskets woven tightly enough to hold
water. They lived by hunting and by growing corn and squash.
Their way of life went on peacefully for several hundred years.
Then around 1200 A.D. something strange happened, for
which the reasons are not quite clear. Most of the people moved
from the level plateau back down into alcoves in the cliffs. The
move must have made their lives difficult because they had to
climb back up to the plateau to do the farming. But it seems the
Anasazi planned to stay in the canyon walls, for they soon filled
the alcoves with amazing cliff dwellings. "Cliff Palace," the most
famous of these, had more than two hundred rooms.
For all the hard work that went into building these new homes,
the Anasazi did not live in them long. By 1300 A.D. the cliff
dwellings were empty. Mesa Verde was deserted and remained a
ghost country for almost six hundred years. Were the people
driven out of their homes by enemies? No sign of attack or
fighting, or even the presence of other tribes, has been found.
Archaeologists who have studied the place now believe there
are other reasons. Mesa Verde, the beautiful green table, was no
longer a good place to live. For one thing, in the second half of
the thirteenth century there were long periods of cold, and very
little rain fell—or else it came at the wrong time of year. Scientists
know this from examining the wood used in the cliff dwellings.
The growth rings in trees show good and bad growing seasons.
But the people had survived drought and bad weather before, so
there must have been another reason.
As the population grew, more land on the mesa top had to be
farmed in order to feed the people. That meant that trees had to
be cut to clear the land and also to use for houses and fuel.
Without the forests, the rain began to wash away the mesa top.
How do we know about erosion problems that happened
about eight hundred years ago? The Anasazi built many low
dams across the smaller valleys on the mesa to slow down rain
runoff. Even so, good soil washed away, and the people could no
NAEP released item, grade 8
longer raise enough food. As the forests dwindled, the animals,
already over–hunted, left the mesa for mountainous areas with
more trees.
And as the mesa "wore out," so did the people. It appears that
the Anasazi were not healthy. Scientists can learn a lot about
ancient people's health by studying the bones and teeth found in
burials. The mesa dwellers had arthritis, and their teeth were
worn down by the grit in corn meal, a main part of their diet.
As food became scarce, people grew weaker. Not many lived
beyond their twenties. Women died very young, and few babies
survived. Living so close together in the cliff houses, where
everyone was hungry and worried, the people must have suffered
from emotional strain. They probably quarreled often.
In the end the Anasazi must have given up hope that things
would get better. Families packed up and went away. Of course,
the "ancient ones" did not simply disappear. They moved
southeast to another area and mingled with other peoples. After a
while their heritage as the people of the Mesa Verde was
forgotten.
In time the trees grew back and the plateau became green
once more. But, for the Anasazi it was too late. Although they
respected nature and tried to farm wisely, land that was used too
hard could not support them forever.
Yet in their cliff houses and crafts the "ancient ones" left us a
superb monument. It is truly one of the most fascinating pictures
of America's past.
NAEP released item, grade 8
NAEP released item, grade 8
NAEP released item, grade 8
1. Some people say that the Anasazi's success as a civilization may have actually caused their own
decline. Using information in the article, explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
NAEP released item, grade 8
Scoring Guide
Score & Description
Extensive
These responses assess the statement and provide an explanation that focuses on more than one
aspect of the Anasazi's lifestyle. They demonstrate an explicit understanding of causal relationships
between events and outcomes by connecting and integrating ideas across the text with their own
ideas about the statement. Or, they must demonstrate their understanding of the paradox of
success leading to decline.
Essential
These responses state whether they agree or disagree with the statement and provide an
appropriate explanation that is based on information in the article. The explanation must
demonstrate a clear understanding of the statement.
Partial
These responses state whether they agree or disagree with the statement, but their explanation is
based solely on inappropriate information from the text. Or they provide some information from the
article about the Anasazi but do not relate it to why the civilization declined.
Unsatisfactory
These responses do not discuss the validity of the statement. Or, they simply state their agreement
with no explanation or an explanation relying on circular reasoning. Or they give an elaborate
opinion that is not text-based.
Extensive - Student Response
1 Some people say that the Anasazi's success as a civilization may have actually caused their own
decline. Using information in the article, explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
1 Some people say that the Anasazi's success as a civilization may have actually caused their own
NAEP released item, grade 8
decline. Using information in the article, explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
Scorer Comments:
Both responses acknowledge the problem of a civilization outgrowing its resources. The first
response agrees with the statement and discusses a causal chain of successes leading to the
Anasazi's decline. The second response disagrees with the statement by contrasting the Anasazi's
successful endeavors to the loss of natural resources.
Essential - Student Response
1 Some people say that the Anasazi's success as a civilization may have actually caused their own
decline. Using information in the article, explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
1 Some people say that the Anasazi's success as a civilization may have actually caused their own
decline. Using information in the article, explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
Scorer Comments:
The first response provides some information related to how the Anasazi's civilization declined but
does not completely explain the cause and effect relationship. The second response supports an
opinion about the Anasazi's decline by saying, "it was only the weather that drove them out," which
does not show an understanding of the loss of natural resources.
Partial - Student Response
NAEP released item, grade 8
1 Some people say that the Anasazi's success as a civilization may have actually caused their own
decline. Using information in the article, explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
1 Some people say that the Anasazi's success as a civilization may have actually caused their own
decline. Using information in the article, explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
Scorer Comments:
The first response supports an opinion with a personal opinion unrelated to information in the
article, and the second response provides information from the article that is not related to an
opinion about the Anasazi's decline.
Unsatisfactory - Student Response
1 Some people say that the Anasazi's success as a civilization may have actually caused their own
decline. Using information in the article, explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
1 Some people say that the Anasazi's success as a civilization may have actually caused their own
decline. Using information in the article, explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
Scorer Comments:
Both responses merely repeat part of the question without providing any additional information from
the article.
NAEP released item, grade 8
1994 National Performance Results
Score
Percentage of Students
Unsatisfactory
25%
Partial
30%
Essential
16%
Extensive
12%
Omitted
Off task
15%
1%
Note:
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•
These results are for public and nonpublic school students.
Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Contexts for Reading: Reading for Information
Aspects of Reading: Developing Interpretation
NAEP released item, grade 8
Contexts for Reading
Reading for Information
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Involves the engagement of the reader with aspects of the real world
Reading for information is most commonly associated with textbooks, primary and secondary sources,
newspaper and magazine articles, essays, and speeches. Some features that distinguish
informational text from literary text are organization and the way information is presented.
Informational text is organized by topic and supporting details, whereas literary text is organized by the
structure of a story, poem, or drama. Informational texts may have boldface headings, graphics,
illustrations, and captions that signal importance in the text. However, some commonalities exist
between literary and informational text and the skills and strategies required for reading each. Both
require people to critically analyze the text, reflect on it, and draw conclusions.
When reading for information, readers need to know the specific text patterns, or forms of organization
(e.g., cause and effect, sequential order, comparison/contrast, opinion and supporting arguments), to
develop understanding. People frequently have different purposes for reading text of this nature-for
example, to find specific pieces of information, answer a question, or get some general information
when glancing through a magazine article. Reading informational text calls for orientations to the text
that differ from those used in reading for literary experience because readers are specifically focused
on acquiring information. When people read for information, they may select parts of the text they
need, rather than reading from beginning to end.
Aspects of Reading
Developing Interpretation
To develop an interpretation, the reader must extend initial impressions to develop a more complete
understanding of what was read. This process involves linking information across parts of a text as
well as focusing on specific information. Questions that assess this aspect of reading include drawing
inferences about the relationship of two pieces of information and providing evidence to determine the
reason for an action. Questions that assess this aspect of reading include the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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What event marked a change in the plot or situation?
What caused the character to _________?
What caused this event?
What is the meaning of __________?
What type of person is this character? Explain.
What does this idea imply?
In what ways are these ideas important to the topic or theme?
What will be the result of this step in the directions?
What does this character think about _______?
NAEP released item, grade 8
NAEP released item, grade 8